1(a) Use suitable examples to demonstrate that two research problems could have similar research design but different research methodology.

(b) Some researchers' belief that studies with good internal validity often have poor external validity. Justify this statement by giving an example of a situation where enhancing internal validity might impair external validity.

(c) Discuss two characteristics of a good research design.

2) Assume you have the following research question: "Which programming language or languages may be considered superior when implementing algorithms for handling large data sets"

Discuss how you can apply the following research design techniques to answer the research

question:

(a) Quantitative Design

(b) Qualitative Design

(c) Experimental Design

3) Open sources have become interesting sources for implementing software in the computing field. However it will be interesting to study how masters students in computing utilize Open source software when doing their projects. In view of this discuss how you can utilize action research methodology to study this research problem. In your discussion demonstrate how the different stages in action research will be applied to handle research problems.

4)A researcher decided to conduct a matched pair's design experiment to investigate whether use of computer games influences concentration in a programming class. Participants were matched on performance and gender.

a) Write a null hypothesis for this experiment.

b) Outline one strength and one weakness of using a matched pairs design in this experiment.

c) Describe an alternative experimental design and one strength of using this design instead of a matched pairs design.

d) What is the Independent variable and dependent variable in this investigation?

e) Outline how you could select a sample that would be representative

f) Explain how one factor in this study might affect its internal validity.

5) a) Review of the literature in the area of research is a preliminary step before attempting to plan the study. Justify this statement by explaining five key areas which you can draw from literature review about your research problem.

b) The introductory chapter(s) should be prepared in such a way that it should interest the reader in the subject matter of research. Justify this statement by explaining five keys areas which should be discussed in the introduction chapter.